Shrimp exports at risk from antibiotic residues

Experts have raised warnings about the weaknesses of Vietnam’s exported shrimp including unfavourable colour and antibiotic residues which could lead to Vietnam losing markets. Vietnam may lose markets due to antibiotic residues A recent survey conducted by the local authorities in Phu Tan District, Ca Mau Province, about shrimp raising and wastewater treatment showed that only 53 out of 119 shrimp farm owners followed wastewater regulations. This is a common issue across Vietnam. At a meeting about shrimp raising in HCM City, Le Van Quang, deputy head of Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers and chairman of Minh Phu Seafood Corporation, said that too many antibiotic residues were Vietnam’s shrimp export weakness. Many markets including the US, Japan and the EU have tightened regulations about antibiotic residues. In the past, only 30 percent of Vietnamese shrimp cargoes were inspected, but now all of them are inspected in Japan. South Korean authorities have sent two official documents to warn over Nitrofurans residues in shrimp. The future of shrimp export to the EU is very dim and if the problem is not solved, Vietnam may lose access to those markets. “The cost for antibiotic residue testing is not cheap. Minh Phu Seafood Corporation has invested in several VND10bn (USD427,000) laboratories. As a result, the price for a kilo of shrimp increased by VND6,000 and this will make Vietnamese shrimp less competitive,” Quang said. In addition, boiled shrimp from Vietnam has a pinkish colour while most markets prefer them red. “Famers often… [Read full story]